Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Let the Debate Begin (again...)

So we are just 2 weeks out from pitchers and catchers reporting, and while the roster seems pretty much set, there are still a couple minor position battles out there. For instance, will Gardner or Granderson be in CF or LF. Who is the backup IF or OF or C. Oh yeah and that little position called the #5 spot. Is it Joba or Hughes or another from a cast of characters. Last spring we had the greatly debated Joba: Pen or Rotation. And it seems the media is picking right up on that again. Joel Sherman saying the Yankees would prefer Joba in the pen as Mo's setup man and "heir apparent". While I like Joba in that role, this essentially means last year was a wasted experiment that probably hinder his development rather than protect him. I think Hughes has better "starter stuff" and I hope he wins the battle. Joba belongs in the pen. So let the debate begin again...who's #5 and who's the heir apparent?

37 comments:

Crash said...

For the record this post was up a good hour and a half before a similar post on RAB blog!!!

old professor said...

Mid, who is the fifth starter is irrelevant should the first four stay healthy and pitch to their abilities.

In all likelihood the starting nod will go to Hughes. He has more pitches to throw (though he seemed to fall in love with the cutter last season). I don't believe Chamberlain has the makeup to be a consistent good starter. He has shown the ability to come out of the pen and blow people away; when he starts his fastball is mediocre and flat at best.

The backup catching position has already been decided - Cervelli. As for the infield it would appear that Pena gets the nod. There is also a possiblilty the AAA second baseman will get a solid look.

Crash said...

I've been hearing some chatter from Jim Bowden that the Yankees are interested in Jonny Gomes. If this is true, Gomes would essentially be a platoon player for either Gardner or Granderson when lefties are on the mound. Gomes has a career split on lefties of .274 BA (and only .224 against righties). He has consistently been around 20HR power.

Now, given the Yankees self imposed budget, I would guess the Yankees either have to trade someone to clear salary room or sign him to minor league deal that would escalate if he made the big club out of spring.

old professor said...

Gomes would not be a good fit in the locker room. Remember this is the punk who while playing for the Rays came up from behind and nailed Shelly Duncan (who went into second base rather hard). There was a lot of comments coming from the Yankees that the guy was a coward and could only come at people from behind.

Crash said...

A lot of talk about Fox and their "Game of the Week" broadcast. It usually broadcasts at 1 or 4...this year they have a couple games at 7pm. Notably the Yankees vs. Mets, and Yankees vs. Dodgers. I have no idea why MLB allows for night games on weekends. During the week I can understand it, but on weekends and holidays they should be day games.

I'm really looking forward to the Dodgers series this year. Anyone up for a roadtrip to Hollywood?!?!?

old professor said...

Fox is looking for higher ratings and the later the game the more people will watch.

The 7pm start for the Dodgers game could correspond with a 4pm time on the west coast.

Would not mind taking a game in out in LA - probably already sold out and air fare is not cheap.

Hal Steinbrenner is already beating the drum the team looks good enough to repeat - I don't know if they have all it will take to win the East amd move on. Boston has a very good rotation and in the west, the Mariners are going to be really really tough. The central division will again be an also ran division, though the tigers may have really improved their pithching from the Arizona portion of the Granderson trade.

Crash said...

This is the one lull in the sports season that I can't stand. The glow of the hot stove has all but faded with just minor moves left to be made to round out the bench and spring training invitees. Super Bowl is done (pretty good game by the way, happy for New Orleans). Next week there's the Daytona 500 if you're into that...but there's really nothing until mid/end of March when college basketball gets going (Syracuse looks really tough this year and should go far). Yes pitchers and catchers report next week but you can't report on guys playing catch, no one had any significant off season surgeries so there's really worry there...exhibition games won't start for a couple more weeks after that. At least there's the best of 9 round robin Caribbean World Series going on. I did get to see former Yankee Karim Garcia go yard. Fransico Lariano looks nasty.

Crash said...

Yankees have added Marcus Thames today. Believed to be on a minor league deal. He has great splits against lefties. If he makes the team I'd say there's the "specialist" off the bench.

old professor said...

Finally a signing that makes sense. Thames is a solid addition to the team. He hustles, he has solid numbers against lefthanded pitching (significantly higher than Winn), the only drawback is that if he makes the team out of spring training, there has to be a roster move on the forty man roster.

A number of Yankee prospects will get a solid look this spring especially the pitchers. McAllister, Nova and others will be given the chance to show they have the stuff to contribute.

Crash said...

Speculation is Thames is competing with Hoffman for the last spot on the roster.

Was watching the Hot Stove report on MLB last night, couple of decent pitchers out there that could help a bullpen...Brandon Looper and Mike McDougal. Both guys are experienced have closed games in the past, heck McDougal had 20 last year. Looper could be a starter, long man, setup, or close. I know Yankees wanted youth in the pen, but a nice veteran arm back there (besides Mo) wouldn't be a bad thing.

Crash said...

Just saw the list of Spring Training invitees. Some interesting names on the list. The Yankees are inviting at least 5 catchers to spring training (including Montero) think they realize Jorge's click is ticking???

Kei Igawa gets an invite as does Zach McAllister (drafted back in 2006). Jason Hirsh who was most recently with Houston & Colorado. That he had been around for a while but he's still only 27 years old. Colin Curtis is getting a look this spring as well. I think his fielding is there but his bat struggled at AAA. I expect him to be sent to AAA very early in the process and get a more serious look next year, he's only 24 right now, but this is the year he needs to put up #'s at Scranton.

old professor said...

The Yankees will give a serious look at Montero. The betting among executives is that it is not a matter of if, but when Montero will be brought up.

This should be the last year of Kei Igwa's contract. He pitched effectively last year in Spring Training and to start the year at AAA. At one point he was either 6-1 or 8-1. Then for some unknown reason went into a downward fall with his record. Still set the franchise record for wins at AAA, but was not effective. Maybe just maybe, he was mentally down for not getting the call up.

McAllister is supposed to be the real deal. Hirsh was signed as a free agent last year as a back up plan should the number five spot become a revolving door.

As for Curtis, unless there is a series of injuries on the major league roster, he will not see major league service with the Yankees this year and possibly never.

Mid said...

Not for nothing - but I thought the Super Bowl sucked.

The whole thing about New Orleans "deserving" to win because of a storm 5 years ago is ridiculous.

I think Manning might be the best QB of All Time, but he needs to win a few more SBs to get in that conversation.

Mid said...

Any word as to what we're expecting from Brackman this year - if anything?

And any updates on Wang?

old professor said...

Mid, you have really been out of the loop. Brackman will be at Class A again tryng to regain strength and location. He got hit around pretty good last year and his control sucked.

Wang, was offered a minor league deal by the Yankees and turned it down. He will not be ready to pitch until late May or June. He has drawn interest from a number of teams. The Yankees informed his agent that they would like the opportunity to match any offer he receives from another team if it is within reason.

Crash said...

Wang is apparently "very close" to a deal with the Nationals.

I like what the Nationals have done this offseason. .500 isn't out of the question for them this year, which would probably put them ahead of the Mets.

Crash said...

Despite the best efforts of the Nats, Wang is also throwing for the Dodgers today. Dodgers definitely need pitching help...if Dodgers offer a major league deal I would think he would go there.

Damon still isn't getting the picture. Reportedly the Braves have offered him a 1 year deal, Damon is refusing sticking to his stance of a 2 year deal. No word on money offered yet. This guy really is an idiot. I loose more and more respect for him the longer this plays out with him turning down multiple offers.

old professor said...

Crash, reports from LA indicate that after watching Wang throw, the Dodgers are no longer interested in signing him. It would appear the Nationals are the front runner as there is mention of another national league team being interested, but what team was not mentioned.

It will also be interesting to see if the Yankees are given the opportunity to match any offer Wang gets or if they won't care to bother with him.

I don't agree with your assessment of Damon. The guy is a proven winner, he may want to be settled as to where he will play for two years instead of going through the whole free agency thing again. If this winter was not kind to him, next winter could even be colder!

Crash said...

Nationals are offering $2MM with incentives up to $4MM for Wang. There may still be a mystery team out there...

Arbitration is coming up soon, most notably Tim Lincecum. He should get his $13MM. No idea what the Giants can or will say against him. In his first 2 full seasons he's averaged 16.5 W's, 263K's, 226IP, with 2.55 ERA & 1.11 WHIP. Oh yeah and 2 Cy Young awards. He is clearly the best pitcher in the NL right now and probably in MLB. The Giants need to be careful, not only will they lose arbitration but they could sour their relationship with this kid and he could walk in 2 years. He is their franchise right now.

Crash said...

Giants offer Lincecum a low ball 3 year deal (low ball being relative at $37MM)...based on market conditions I would say he's worth at least $15MM a season. That puts a 3 year deal well above $40MM.

Also the Braves offer to Damon was 1 year at $2MM.

old professor said...

Maybe Damon should approach the Yankees and ask for two years at two million each year.

old professor said...

Okay this has nothing to do with baseball, but Billboard Magazines for valentines day just released the top fifty sexiest songs by artists.

Oliva Newton John's song Physical is number one. That's right Mid and Crash the same Oliva Newton John from your very early childhood. Still think her Xanadu Album is one of the best sound tracks released (except for the soundtrack from Somewhere in Time).

Crash said...

I wouldn't call Xanadu her album...it was half hers...ELO was the other half and the much better half. I'm listening to that right now (can't believe I just admitted that).

Crash said...

Looks like Damon could actually get his money...well not all of it. Reportedly the Tigers are offering the same contract the Yankees initially offered 2 years/$14MM.

Certainly better than the 1 year $2mm that the Braves have reportedly offered. Why is he willing to take the same deal from the Tigers but not the Yankees??? Unreal.

old professor said...

Crash, I read the Tiger offer was $7million but for only one year.

It is also hard to believe that Jarrod Washburn is still sitting at home waiting for someone to make an offer. (Last year, the Yankees actually approached the Mariners about trading him and instead the mariners traded him to the Tigers.

Crash said...

Here's the link to Jon Heymen's tweet about the 2 year offer to Damon.

http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/status/8981449535

Non-baseball...I think the Giants released Antonio Pierce?

old professor said...

Correct, the Giants released Antonio Pearce. He was very gratious with the decision indicating he understood that the team wanted to move in another direction and had only positive memories of his time in NY.

There are analyists out there saying this is just the beginning of re-doing the defense. Osi will probably be traded for a high draft choice in this year's draft and Rocky Bernard will be unemployed as well. There are a lot of things the Giants have to address - linebacker, d-line and o-line which is starting to show its age.

Crash said...

I don't buy it...Offensive Lines get better with age. 2 years ago they were "the best in the league" now they're old...no way. I remember years of consistency and excellence from the Hogs in Washington. The O line is fine, it is not old, in fact I would say they are hitting their prime years: Snea is 28, Diel 29, McKenzie is 30, O'hare 32. Great O'lineman go into late 30's even 40. They still have at least 4 or 5 years left in them as a unit.

Crash said...

Came across a pretty good Yankees Minor League blog the other day.

pendingpinstripes.com

old professor said...

Crash, as age creeps in reaction time and mobility tend to slowdown. This is a fact of life and in football it affects every running back, defensive back and linemen (O and D). The Giants offensive line could not handle the pressure brought against them the last two weeks of the season or at any time after they were 5-0. The fact of the matter is they wore down and couldn't react. Making the matter worse, half of them have had knee problems.

Back to baseball - Damon apparently has received offers from the Tigers, White Sox and Braves. He is mulling over which one he wants. Tigers have actually made two offers: one of which is a one year deal the other a two year deal. There has to be some kind of consideration regarding money differential or deferment.

Lsst post until I return from Mexico. Unless they have internet access at the resort.

Crash said...

To bad about Monahan. The "illness" sounds like cancer though he has not expressly stated so. I'm sure the team will miss him sounds like he is out all of spring and at least the beginning of the season. Hope he's able to get well and he's able to rejoin the tam this season.

Crash said...

Yankees open camp tomorrow. Though several players have already reported.

Wang has reportedly agreed to terms with the Nationals. Though neither side has officially confirmed this.

Damon is apparently close to a deal with the Tigers.

old professor said...

Too bad if Wang goes to the Nationals. With the young arms they have, he may find himself on the outside looking in. If healthy and if he could return to his former form, he could really be an asset.
Oh it is 80 degrees in Mexico. We have experienced some cloudy weather and some rain, but I am really burned from the sun.

Crash said...

Damon signs with the Tigers 1 year deal at $8MM. Not sure what the hell the Tigers were thinking there. Damon essentially accepts $1MM more to play with the Tigers (who missed the playoffs last year) instead of staying with the World Champs. And it could be a lot more than that because if he thought the market was tough on a 36 year old OF, what's it going to be for 37 year OF who just had a significant drop off in production??? No way he puts up similar #'s that he did last year.

I bet he gets booed at Yankee Stadium this year.

Crash said...

I didn't see this one coming...Yankees sign Chan Ho Park to a 1 year deal. He did have some success with the Phillies the last couple of seasons. The only thing I don't like about this is that they now have too many guys like this in the pen. Gaudin, Mitre, and Aceves are can all serve as middle/long relief. This to me doesn't really make sense unless they are moving someone.

old professor said...

Crash, was the Park signing to a minor league or major league contract?

if it was to a major league contract, then someone is going to be moved. In addition Park was a starter for a significant part of his career.

I agree though it is a very strange move on the teams part.

Crash said...

Park is a major league deal...$1.2MM, with another $300K in incentive bonuses.

Damon apparently called Hal Steinbrenner personally in January as a last ditch effort to come back to NY. Hal stuck to his guns by approving/offering the 1 year at $6MM with half of that money deferred.

Can all this drama end please with Damon vs. the Yankees. Both sides really messed this up. Move on already. I need to worry about the players the Yankees have in camp, not who they don't have...

Support the Troops